Friday, November 09, 2012

So you think you know carols?

Then, if you are so moved, try your hand at writing your own questions and submitting them in this year's "Songs of Good Cheer" contest.

Every December since 1999, my fellow columnist Mary Schmich and I have been hosting “Songs...,” a holiday caroling party featuring an all-star cast of musicians from the Old Town School of Folk Music. This year the shows will be Dec. 13 through 16 in the magnificent auditorium in the west building on the school’s Lincoln Avenue campus.

Everyone gets a songbook and we roll through more than two dozen songs of the season, including familiar classics and unfamiliar treasures. Jokes. Sentiment. Special guests. And all proceeds go to Chicago Tribune Holiday Giving, an all-purpose charity that directs 100 percent of all donations to organizations that serve the needy.

And every year Mary and I give free tickets to winners of some contest we devise. This year’s challenge is to write humorous multiple-choice trivia questions along the lines of those found in the links above based on well-known Christmas, Hanukka or winter-related songs.

One other thing that happens every year is that “Songs of Good Cheer” sells out the 450-seat Old Town School auditorium very early. It happening again this year even though we added an extra show to try to meet demand. So unless you’re counting on being one of our four winners you should call 773-728-6000 or visit oldtownschool.org for tickets.

About "Change of Subject."

"Change of Subject" by Chicago Tribune op-ed columnist Eric Zorn contains observations, reports, tips, referrals and tirades, though not necessarily in that order. Links will tend to expire, so seize the day. For an archive of Zorn's latest Tribune columns click here. An explanation of the title of this blog is here. If you have other questions, suggestions or comments, send e-mail to ericzorn at gmail.com.
More about Eric Zorn

Contributing editor Jessica Reynolds is a 2012 graduate of Loyola University Chicago and is the coordinator of the Tribune's editorial board. She can be reached at jreynolds at tribune.com.